Locked sprinkler-strut.



PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

E. S. CLAYTON. LOCKED SPRINKLER STRUT. APPLICATION FILED APR.12. 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST S. CLAYTON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

LOCKED SPRINKLER-STRUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12,1905.

Application filed April 12, 1905. Serial No. 255,142.

- To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ERNEST S. CLAYTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at N ewark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locked Sprinkler-Struts,

- of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic fire-ex- -tinguishers, and more particularly to the Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the fulcrum-plate constructed as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the locking-bracket. Figs. 8 and 9 are face views illustrating modifications.

In my improved device I dispense with the post heretofore employed in such structures and in place thereof make use of two levers C C, bent at the ends to the same side with their long arms in the same plane. The arms of the levers may abut each other, as shown in Fig. 9, or may be cut away or recessed each at one side to receive a tongue 2, extending from the other lever, so that the two tongues 2 2 lie alongside of each other in the same plane, as in Fig. 8, or the arms may be gradually reduced in thickness or beveled, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Intermediate the bent ends of the levers is what I term a fulcrum-plate D, inasmuch as the ends of the .said plate, which are preferably scarfed to present somewhat sharp edges, abut the short arms of the lever and constitute the fulcra upon which the levers may swing, the long arms lying against one face of the plate. With these parts I combine any suitable locking means for holding the parts in position until they should be separated, said means being secured by solder which melts at a low temperature, and preferably the devices are so formed that they will be under tension while so held, so as to more readily separate on the melting of the solder. One locking means consists in providing the fulcrum-plate D with one or more wings E E, each perforated for the passage of onearm of a locking-bracket F, which extends over one or both of the long arms of the levers, the other arm of the bracket being soldered to the outer face of the wing.

In Fig. 9 the fulcrum-plate is shown as provided with a single wing E, and there is a single locking-bracket, the inner end of which extends over both levers, the same arrangement being shown in Fig. 8, where the reduced ends of the levers lie alongside of each other. In the other figures the fulcrum plate has two wings, and each of the locking-brackets F is in position to hold one of the wings in place. Preferably the wings E E diverge and the perforations are at an angle, so that when the solder is melted and the outer ends of the locking-brackets swing away from the wings the inner ends are not in position to interfere with the outward movement of the arms of the levers. The angular positions of the slots afford sharp fulcra on which the brackets can swing.

Preferably the arms of the levers are curved, as shown in Fig. 5, so that when flattened against the plate D they will be under tension and willtend to separate from the plate more quickly and more certainly than if not under tension, and by carrying the arms alongside of each other their length may be increased without increasing the length of the strut, securing a greater leverage in the retaining or locking device.

The different parts above described are severally coated with fusible solder, and after assembling the same it is best to coat the entire strut with solder and allow the same to cool, after which it may be inserted as a single structure between the valve or cap 3 and the bearing 4 of the sprinkler. It will be seen that when so placed any pressure tending to lift the valve or cap 3 from its seat will act to exert such a pressure upon both the bent levers as to swing the same upon their fulcra.

I do not here claim the construction of valve and seat as shown herein and claimed in my separate application, Serial No. 255,141.

Without limiting myself to the precise con struction and arrangement of parts shown, I claim as my invention- 1. The combination in a strut for automatic sprinklers, of two bent levers, an interposed fulcrum-plate, the ends of which engage the bent ends of the levers, and locking means for holding the levers in position in respect to the plate and secured in place by solder, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a strut for automatic sprinklers, of two bent-ended levers arranged in the same plane, an interposed plate, the ends of which abut the bent ends of the levers, and a locking device for each lever, secured by solder to the plate, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a strut for automatic sprinklers, of two bent-ended levers, the long arms of which are side by side in the same plane, a fulcrum-plate interposed between the bent ends of the levers, and means for locking the parts together, said means secured in place by solder, substantially as set forth.

4:. The combination of the bent-ended levers, interposed fulcrum-plate having perforated wings, and an L-shaped locking-bracket, one arm of each extending through the perforation of one of the wings and over the adjacent lever, and the other arm secured by solder to the wing, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the fulcrum-plate and its perforated wings, of bent-ended levers, each having a curved arm, and locking means for holding said arm of each lever flat in contact with'said plate, the locking means secured in place bysolder, substantially as set forth.

6'. The combination of the bent-ended levers with arms in the same plane, an intermediate fulcrum-plate with perforated wings at opposite sides, one near each end, and L-shaped locking-brackets extending through the perforations and secured in place by solder, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the fulcrum-plate and its perforated wings arranged at opposite edges near the opposite ends, of bent-ended levers having arms extending side by side on said plate, and means for locking the parts in position, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the bent-ended levers, of a fulcrum-plate having diverging perforated wings, and L-shaped locking-brackets extending through the perforations and secured in place by solder, substantially as set forth.

- 9. The combination in an automatic sprinkler, of a frame having a valve-seat and valve, a bearing opposite the valve, a strut consisting of bent-ended levers, one bearing on the valve and the other on the said bearing, a fulcrum-plate intermediate the bent ends of the levers, and locking means for holding the plate and levers together, the parts secured by solder, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with the bent-ended levers, of a fulcrum-plate having diverging wings with perforations extending at an angle through the same, and L shaped lockingbrac'kets extending through the perforations and secured in place by solder, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST S. CLAYTON.

Witnesses:

O. A. GARTHWAITE, FRANK T. STINsoN. 

